Knitting machines and operating mechanism therefor



Jan. 19, 1960 J. HELD 2,921,452

KNITTING MACHINES AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 8, 1953 F 1 E- J 250 l I I 72/ 4 J J INViglgRpd 20 as e wig/ 5,5.

ATTORNEY Jflli- 1960 J. HELD 2,921,452

KNITTING MACHINES AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Sept. B, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jfise Held %2 A'TTORNEY J. HELD Jan. 19, 1960 KNITTING MACHINES AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 8, 1953 INVENTOR chi? Held M 0 ATTORNEY J. HELD Jan. 19, 1960 KNITTING MACHINES AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 8, 1953 2/4 2/7 /57 e e F INVENTOR se Held ATTORNEY Jan. 19, 1960 J. HELD 2,921,452

KNITTING MACHINES AND OPERATING MECHANISM THEREFOR Filed Sept. 8, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 mm l v a! w lwfi 55 0 j lazy/l5 v 5; 202 300 F Lr5 J Z INVENTOR Jase b 01d BY M/ZA ATTORNEY United States Patent KNITTING MACHINES AND OPERATING NIECHANISM THEREFOR Joseph Held, West Lawn, Pa., assignor to Textile Machine Works, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application September 8, 1953, Serial No. 378,852

13 Claims. (CI. 66-86) This invention relates to tricot knitting machines and more particularly to means for improving the operating coordination of the yarn laying and loop forming elements of such machines.

It is the present trend in the development of tricot machines to increase the operating speed of the machine, to reduce the vibratory actions of the operating parts of the machine, and at the same time simplify the constructoin of the operating parts. Heretofore, it has been proposed to use eccentrics for operating the knitting elements not only to permit higher operating speeds but also to reduce vibration and resulting noise to a minimum. However, the use of eccentrics prior to the instant invention has been found to have drawbacks in that the movement of the needles has been necessarily limited to a substantially straight line path, making the use of a twopart needle of the hook and hook closer type essential for eflicient operation. This type needle, however, not only requires special operating mechanism for the hook closing members but also poses manufacturing problems which more than offset the advantages gained in the use of this needle.

In tricot machines using spring beard needles, the motions of the needles and other elements cooperating therewith are more complex. This is particularly true with respect to the operations of the needles and warp yarn guides, making it diflicult to obtain the required movements and timed relation between these parts by the use of eccentrics. Therefore, heretofore in such machines, it was necessary to use cams for the motions of the various operating elements, the use of cams however, causing excessive vibration and noise and thereby limiting the speed of operation of the machine.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide operating mechanism in tricot knitting machines that does not require straight line movement of the needles and which not only permits an increase in the operating speed of the machine but also reduces the vibration and noise in the operating parts to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tricot knitting machine having spring bearded needles with eccentric mechanisms of an improved type and which eliminate the difliculties heretofore encountered, for coordinating the motions of the needles and the other elements cooperating therewith to feed yarns to the needles and to form the yarns into loops.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tricot knitting machine having spring bearded needles and eccentric mechanisms which impart both vertical and lateral motions to the needles.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a tricot knitting machine attaining the above defined objects and which includes means for maintaining a substantially constant tension on the fabric produced by the machine during the lateral movements of the needles.

In tricot machines the bar carrying the front series of warp yarn guides is usually mounted on the machine 2,921,452 Patented Jan. 19, 1960 in such manner that it may be raised or entirely removed from its supporting means in order to make repairs to the yarn guides on the back bar and to rethread these yarn guides. The means for raising the front bar usually consisted of an operating linkage including a series of levers and connecting links extending from a point readily accessible to the operator of the machine to the front bar and included means for also holding the front bar in operating position on the supporting means. This operating means was very susceptible to wear particularly at the pin joints between the levers and links due primarily to the upward pressure of the guide bar on the holding means during operation of the machine.

It is therefore a further object of the invention to provide a latching mechanism for holding the front guide bar in operating position on the guide bar supporting means, and an operating linkage for releasing the latching mechanism and for raising the guide bar for removal from the supporting means, the latching mechanism acting when in holding position to prevent an upward pressure of the guide bar from being transmitted to the operating linkage during operation of the machine.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the novel elements, features of construction and cooperation of parts, as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view taken transversely through a tricot knitting machine according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l, but on an enlarged scale relative to Fig. l, and showing the operating mechanism for the warp yarn guides for feeding yarns to the needles of the machine:

Fig. 3 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1, on an enlarged scale, showing the operating mechanism for the needles;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale, showing the operating mechanism for the needle beard closing or pressing mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 3 and shown greatly enlarged relatively to Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view, on a greatly enlarged scale of the warp guide mechanism shown in the upper portion of Fig. 2, certain parts being omitted and other parts not shown in Fig. 2 being added;

Fig. 7 is a View similar to a portion of Fig. 2 showing details of a part of the operating mechanism for the warp guides not shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view showing one part of the supporting means for a Warp guide as viewed in the direction of the arrows 8-8 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a cross shectional view taken substantially along the line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially along the line 10-10 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 12 is an elevational view taken substantially in the direction of the arrows 12-12 on Fig. 2 and showing a portion of the pattern means for traversing the Warp yarn guides;

Fig. 13 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, taken along the line 1313 of Fig. 12, and shown on an enlarged scale relative to Fig. 12; and

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view on an enlarged scale of.

the paths followed by the needles and the other coopcrating knitting elements of the machine.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a framework 20 of a tricot knitting machine including transverse frame members 21, lower horizontally extending beams 22 and an upper horizontally extending beam 25. Rotatably mounted in the transverse frame members 21 is a drive shaft 26 which is driven at a speed, hereinafter referred to as machine speed, through a variable speed driving unit which is in turn driven, by a motor (not shown) in a usual manner. Also rotatably mounted in the transverse frame members 21 are eccentric carrying shafts 27, 30 and 31 for driving the various loop forming elements of the machine as hereinafter set forth. The drive shaft 26 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction and carries a gear 32 which meshes with a gear 35 carried on the shaft 27, the gears 32 and 35 having a two-to-one ratio whereby the shaft 27 is rotated at twice the speed of the shaft 26 and in an opposite or clockwise direction. The shaft 26 also carries a gear 36 which meshes with a gear 37 carried on the shaft 30, the gears 36 and 37 having a oneto-one ratio whereby the shaft 30 is driven at the same speed as shaft 26, or at machine speed, and in an opposite or clockwise direction. The shaft 30 carries a second gear 40 which meshes with a gear 41 on shaft 31, the gears 40 and 41 having a two-to-one ratio, whereby gear 40 rotates the gear 41 and shaft 31 at twice the machine speed and in the opposite or counterclockwise direction relative to the shaft 30.

The tricot knitting machine is provided with knitting elements including spring bearded needles 42 carried in a needle bar 45, sinkers 46 carried in a bar 47, a presser member 50 for closing the beards of the needles and a bar 51 for the presser member (Fig. 6). Yarn guides 52 are also provided, one series of which are carried on a front bar 55 and another series being carried on a back bar 56. The spring bearded needles 42, sinkers 46, presser member 50 and yarn guides 52 are of the usual construction and are supported in their respective bars in the usual manner. However, according to the invention, certain of the knitting movements of the ele ments have been changed from known practice to provide a more harmonious cooperation between the elements and thereby permit an increase in knitting speed, as hereinafter set forth.

According to the invention the needles 42 are given a substantially vertical movement and in addition are also given a movement transverse to and in synchronism with the vertical movement. For this purpose the needle bar 45 is mounted on a lever 57 which is pivotally carried on an eccentric bearing member 60 (Fig. 3) fixed to the shaft 27 to rotate therewith at twice the machine speed, as hereinbefore set' forth. The lever 57 has a projecting arm 61 which is pivotally connected to a link 62, intermediate the ends thereof, by means of a pin 65. One end of the link 62 is pivotally connected by a pin 66 to one end of an eccentric lever 67 which is pivotally mounted on an eccentric bearing member 70 fixed to turn with the shaft 30 at machine speed. The other end of the link 62 is pivotally connected by a pin 71 to an eccentric lever 72 which is pivotally mounted on an eccentric hearing member 75 mounted on the shaft 31 to rotate therewith at twice the machine speed. The eccentricities of the bearing members 70 and 75 and the speed relation thereof are such as to operate the levers 67 and 72, respectively, to oscillate the lever 57 about the axis of the shaft 27. Simultaneously, the eccentric bearing member 60 is rotated to move the lever 57 at right angles to the axis of the shaft 27, the combined movements of the lever 57 imparting both vertical and transverse movements to the needles whereby they operate in synchronisrn with the other knitting elements as hereinafter set forth.

Each of the eccentric bearing members 60, 70 and 75 are connected to turn with their respective shafts by means of a key 76 as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The eccentric bearing members are maintained in a predetermined position axially of their respective shafts by a bushing 77 which is split, as shown in Fig. 3, to clear the key 76. The bushing 77 has a tapered portion 80 interfitting a correspondingly tapered bore 81 in the eccentric bearing member 70 and a threaded portion 82 which carries a nut in contact with the left face of the bearing member as shown in Fig. 5. By turning the nut 85 in one direction on the threaded portion 82, the bushing 77 is drawn to the left relatively to the bearing member, as viewed in Fig. 5, to clamp the bearing member 70 to the shaft 30.

The shafts 27, 30 and 31 are provided with central openings 83 which are connected to and are filled with oil by means of a pressure oiling system, not shown and forming no part of the present invention. Each of the eccentric bearing members 60, 70, 75 and similar bearing members, hereinafter set forth, have an opening 84 (Fig. 5) which communicates with the opening 83 and by means of which oil is carried to the bearing surfaces of the levers pivoted on the respective bearing members. As shown in Fig. 5, the lever 67 is provided with an opening 88 which is adapted to register with the opening 84, during each revolution of the shaft 30, and a network of openings 89 in the pin 66 connecting the lever 67 to the link 62, whereby oil is also carried under pressure to the bearing surfaces betwcen the pin and the link. The lever 72, pin 71 and all similar levers and pins hereinafter set forth are also provided with similar openings whereby the various bearing surfaces are continuously oiled.

The presser member 50 is given an arcuate movement toward the needles 42 to close the beards thereof, after the newly laid yarns are caught beneath the beards, to permit the needles to form new loops and draw them through the previously formed loops, and to permit the needles to cast said previously formed loops off of the needles. For this purpose the bar 51 for the presser member 50 is adjustably carried on a lever 86 which is secured to a shaft 87 pivotally mounted in bearings 90, fixed to the frame members 21 as shown in Fig. 4. The lever 86 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 91 by means of a pin 92, the other end of the link being pivotally connected by means of a pin 95 to an arm 96 of a lever 97. The lever 97 is pivotally mounted on an eccentric bearing member 100 on the shaft 27. The lever 97 is provided with a second arm 101 which is pivotally connected to a link 102, intermediate the ends thereof, by means of a pin 105. One end of the link 102 is pivotally connected by a pin 106 to an eccentric lever 107 which is pivotally carried on an eccentric bearing member 110 on the shaft 30. The other end of the link 102 is pivotally connected by a pin 111 to an eccentric lever 112 which is pivotally mounted on an eccentric bearing member 115 on the shaft 31. The eccentric bearing members 100, 110 and 115 are connected to turn with the shafts 27, 3'0 and 31, respectively, by keys similar to keys 76. The bearing members 100, 110 and 115 are also held in predetermined positions axially of the shafts by split bushings similar to the bushings 77, hereinbefore set forth in connection with hearing members 60, 70 and 75.

The sinkers 46 are of the usual type having a slot 116, a nib 117 for catching and holding loops as the needles rise to engage yarns for the next course of loops, and a top surface 120 (Fig. 14) to hold the previously formed loops as the needles draw the newly formed loops therethrough. The sinkers 46 are moved along an arcuate path substantially at right angles to the path of the needles 42 and for this purpose the bar 47 for the sinkers is carried on a lever 121 fixed on a shaft 122 also pivotally mounted in the bearings 90 (Fig. 1). The lever 121 is connected by a pin 125 for pivotal movement with an eccentric lever 126 which is pivotally mounted on an eccentric bearing member 127 on the shaft 30. The eccentric bearing member 127 is connected to turn with the shaft 30 by means of a key similar to the key 76 and is held in predetermined position axially of the shaft by a split bushing, similar to I he bushing 77 hereinbefore set forth.

The yarn guide carrying bars 55 and 56 are supported for arcuate rocking movement about the axis of a shaft 130 which is pivotally mounted in brackets 131 secured to the upper beam 25, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7. The bars 55 and 56 are also given movements axially of the shaft 130 by means hereinafter set forth. For supporting the bar 55, for both arcuate and axial movements, the bar is provided with brackets 132 and 135 which are secured to lower and upper bars 136 and 137, respectively, by screws 138, as shown in Fig. 8. The lower bar 136 is supported by a block 140 on a plate 141 carried on a bracket member 142 secured to the shaft 130 (Figs. 9 and The lower bar 136 is held in sliding engagement with the plate 141 by a guide member 145 which is secured with the block 140 to the plate by means of screws 146. The upper bar 137 is held in sliding engagement with the plate 141 by a guide member 147 which is spaced from the plate by a block 150 and which is secured with the block to the plate by screws 151.

As hereinbefore set forth, the lower bar 136 is supported by the block 140. Normally the lower bar 136 is held in engagement with the block 140 by means of a latch member 152 which is mounted for sliding movement between the plate 141 and a plate 155. The latch member 152 is held in engagement with the bar 136 and resists the upward pressure or thrust of the bar 136 during operation of the front yarn guide bar 55 by engagement of a block 157 in a notch 160 in the latch member. The block 157 is carried on a resilient plate 161 and is held in the notch 160 by a plate spring 162. The plates 155 and 161 and the plate spring 162 are secured to the guide member 147 by screws 165.

The back bar 56 for the yarn guides 52 is provided with brackets 166, similar to the brackets 132 and 135, which are secured to lower and upper bars 167 and 170, respectively, by screws (not shown) similar to the screws 138. The lower bar 167 is supported by a block 175 for sliding engagement with a plate 176 carried on a bracket member 177 secured to the shaft 130. The bar 167 is held in sliding engagement with the plate 176 by a guide member or plate 180 which is secured with the block 175 to the plate 176 by means of screws 181. The upper bar 170 is held in sliding engagement with the plate 176 by a guide member or plate 182 which is spaced from the plate 176 by a block or spacer element 185. The plate 182 and spacer element 185 are secured to the plate 176 by screws 186. The lower bar 167 is maintained in sliding engagement with the block 175 by a cam block 187 which is secured on the plate 176 in abutting relation with the bar 167 by a screw 190.

The bracket members 142 and 177 are rocked with the shaft 130 by means including an arm 191 secured to the shaft and a lever 192 pivoted on the shaft 130, the lever being adjustably connected to the arm by set screws 195 and a clamping bolt 196, as shown in Fig. 2. The lever 192 is pivotally connected by a link 197 to a rocker arm 200 pivotally mounted on the shaft 27. The rocker arm 200 is connected to a link 201, intermediate the ends thereof, by means of a pin 202. One end of the link 201 is connected by a pin 205 to the free end of an eccentric lever 206 which is pivotally carried on an eccentric bearing member 207 on the shaft 30. The other end of the link 281 is pivotally connected by a pin 210 to an eccentric lever 211 which is pivotally mounted on an eccentric bearing member 212 on the shaft 31. The eccentric bearing members 207 and 212 are connected to turn with the shafts 30 and 31, respectively, by keys similar to the keys 76. The eccentric bearing members 207 and 212 are also held in predetermined positions axially of the shafts 30 and 31 by split bushings similar to the split bushings 77, hereinbefore set forth.

At times it is necessary to make the back bar 56 carrying yarn guides 52 more readily accessible for repairs, for rethreading the yarn guides or for otherwise working on the back bar 56. For this purpose, it is desirable to be able to remove the front bar 55 from its normal operating position on the machine. To this end an operating linkage is provided to raise the latch member 152 from latching engagement with the lower bar 136 so that the bars 136 and 137 may be raised above the guide members 145 and 147, respectively, and the front bar 55 and bars 136 and 137 removed bodily from operating position on the machine. The operating linkage includes a yoke 214 having a portion 215 which extends through an aperture 216 formed in the latch member (Figs. 10 and 11). The portion 215 is adapted to engage upper and lower end walls 218 and 219, respectively, forming the aperture to raise the latch member from latching position and return it to latching engagement with the lower bar 136 as hereinbefore set forth. The portion 215 of the yoke 214 has side plates 217 secured thereto as by screws 220, each of the side plates having a bevel 221 for engagement with a corresponding bevel on the block 157 as shown in Fig. 9. Each of the side plates 217 is also provided with a bevelled surface 222 and a ledge 225 for engagement with the upper bar 137 for purposes hereinafter set forth.

The side plates 217 carry a cross head 226 which iengages in a slot 227 in the free end of a lever 230 secured to a shaft 231 which is pivotally supported in the bracket members 142. The shaft 231 is biased in a. counterclockwise direction by torsion springs 233, one of which is shown on the shaft 231 in Fig. 8, one end of the spring being anchored in a collar 234 secured to the shaft and the other end pressing against the shaft as shown in Fig. 9. The shaft 231 carries a bracket 232 having a camming surface 235 which is engaged by a follower 236 rotatably carried on a lever 237 pivotally mounted on the shaft 130. The lever 237 is connected by a link 240 to one arm 241 of a toggle lever 242 (Fig. 7) pivotally mounted on the shaft 87. A second arm 245 of the lever 242 is connected by a link 246 to a lever 247 secured to a shaft 250 pivotally mounted on a bracket 251 secured to the frame members 21. A hand lever 252 secured to the shaft 250, is provided to operate the levers 237, 242 and 247 and links 240 and 246 as hereinafter set forth. From the foregoing it will be obvious that the latch member 152 and block 157 provide a positive means for holding the front guide bar 55 in operating position which will resist any upward thrust of the bar from being transmitted to the operating linkage for raising and lowering the bar.

When the front bar 55 is to be removed from its operating position, the hand lever 252 is turned clockwise as viewed in Fig. 7, which moves the lever 247, link 246, lever 242 and link 240 to turn the lever 237 clockwise about the shaft 130. Clockwise movement of the lever 237 causes the follower 236 to roll on the cam surface 235 to turn the bracket 232, shaft 231, and lever 230 in a clockwise direction to raise the yoke 214. As the yoke 214 starts to rise, the bevelled surface 221 thereon forces the block 157 out of engagement with the notch 160 in the latch member 152. Upon continued rising movement, the ledge portions 225 on the side plates 217 of the yoke engage the upper bar 137 and the member 215, secured to the side plates, engages the upper end wall 218 on the latch member. As the yoke continues to be raised the member 215 raises the latch member 152 and the ledge portions 225 of the side plates raise the upper bar 137 until the bars 136 and 137 are clear of the guide members and 147, respectively. The lower and upper supporting bars 136 and 137 may then be lifted away from the plate 141 and the upper bar 137 placed in hanger brackets 255 which support the bar 55 in inactive position in the usual manner. The yoke 214 is maintained in raised position against the action of the torsion springs 233 on the shaft 231, by the resilient engagement of the block 157 with the bevelled surface 222 on the side plates.

When it is desired to return the bar 55 to its operating position, the upper bars 137 are removed from the hanger brackets 255 and engaged with the ledge portions on the side plates 217. The hand lever 252 is then rotated in a counterclockwise direction which permits the torsion springs 233 to turn the shaft 231 and lever 230 counter clockwise to lower the side plates 217 and bars 136 and 137 into the operating position of Fig. 10. Also, when the member 215 engages the end wall 219 the latch memher 152 is moved downwardly with the side plates 217. After the lower bar 136 comes to rest on the block 140 the side plates continue to move downwardly until the member 215 presses the latch member 152 against the lower bar and the block 157 is in engagement with the notch 160 in the latch member.

Knitting yarns 256 for the guides 52 on the front bar 55 are carried on a beam or beams 257 carried on a shaft 260 rotatably mounted in frame members 259 secured to the frame members 21 (Fig. l). The yarns 256 pass from the beam 257 around a guide rod 261 fixed to the frame members 21, over a rod 262 of a tensioning device 265, which is of a usual construction, and from the rod 262 to the yarn guides 52. Yarns 256 for the guides 52 on the back bar 56 are carried on a beam or beams 266 carried on a shaft 267 also rotatably mounted on the frame members 259 in a manner similar to shaft 260. The yarns from the beam 266 pass from the beam 266 over a guide rod 270 also fixed in the frame members 21, over a rod 271 of a tension device 269, which is similar to the tension device 265, and from the rod 271 to the guides 52. The beams 257 and 266 are connected to the shafts 260 and 267, respectively, to turn therewith by keys 272 and the shafts are operated by usual means (not shown) as the yarns 256 pass through the yarn guides 52 and is knitted into loops by the needles 42 to form a fabric 274.

As hereinbefore set forth the lower and upper bars 136 and 137 are slidable on the plate 141 for shifting the bar 55 endwise or axially of the shaft 130 to lap the yarns carried by the guides 52 around the needles 42 and to carry the yarns to other needles in the usual manner. For shifting the front bar 55 the bracket 132 at the left end of the front bar 55 carries a member 291 (Figs. 12 and 13) having a ball-shaped end portion 292 which interfittingly engages a correspondingly shaped socket in one end 293 of a link 294. The other end 295 of the link 294 also has a ball-shaped socket for interfitting engagement with a ballshaped end portion (not shown) of a member 297 adjustably carried in a member 300 mounted for sliding movement in a housing 301 secured to the machine framework. The member 300 rotatably carries a follower 302 for engagement with a pattern wheel 305, the periphery of which is contoured to impart the desired shifting movements to the bar 55. The pattern wheel 305 is rotated in timed relation with respect to the main drive shaft 26 in usual manner by means (not shown) which forms no part of the present invention. The follower 302 is maintained in engagement with the pattern wheel 305 and the ball-shaped ends of members 291 and 297 are maintained in the sockets in the end portions 293 and 295, respectively, of the link 294 by a spring 306 which is connected between the bracket 132 and a. link 307 adjustably carried in an arm 308 secured to the shaft 130. The link 294 with its socket connections to the ball-shaped ends of members 291 and 2.97 not only serves to maintain the bar 55 in spaced relation with respect to the pattern wheel 305 but also provides a flexible connection between the bar 55 and the wheel when the bar is rocked about the axis 8 of the shaft 130. A similar arrangement (not shown) is provided for shifting the back bar 56 endwise or axially of the shaft 130.

As the fabric 274 is formed it is drawn from the needles 42 over a bar 275 and around a roll 276 which is 1'0- tatably mounted in the framework 20 of the machine. The roll 276 is covered with a material which provides frictional engagement with the fabric and the roll is driven at a predetermined speed to maintain the desired tension on the fabric between the roll and needles. The fabric passes from the roll 276 to and is wound on a reel 277 also rotatably carried in the framework 20. The reel 277 is frictionally driven from the roll 276 through friction rollers 280 and 281 on the roll 276 and reel 277, respectively.

In order to prevent relaxing of the tension in the fabric as the needles 42 are moved laterally during their knitting movements as hereinbefore set forth, the bar 275 is given a movement corresponding to the lateral movement of the needles. For this purpose, the bar 275 is carried on the end of a lever 282 which is pivotally mounted on a shaft 285 mounted for rotative movement in brackets one of which is shown at 286 carried on the frame members 21. The lever 282 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 287, the other end of which is pivotally connected by a pin 290 to the lever 57 whereby movement of the lever 57 by its eccentric bearing member 60 will also be transmitted through the link to the bar 275.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the throw of the eccentric bearing members for the various operating levers for the knitting elements, and the speed at which the eccentric bearing members are operated, are factors in synchronizing the operation of the various knitting elements. Fig. 14 diagrammatically illustrates the paths followed by the needles 42, sinkers 46, presser member 50 and the two sets of yarn guides 52 during the coordinated movements of these elements. The needles 42 follow a path 310, as indicated by the arrows. the vertical component of the path from a low point 311 to a high point 312 being controlled by the two eccentric bearing members 70 and on the shafts 30 and 31, respectively, and the transverse component being controlled by two rotating movements of the eccentric bearing member 60 on the shaft 27. The sinkers have a movement along an arcuate path 315 between the full and dotted line positions shown in Fig. 14 which movement is controlled by the eccentric bearing member 127 on the shaft 30. The presser member 50 follows an arcuate path of movement 320 from an inactive position indicated at point 321 to a needle beard closing position indicated at point 322, which is controlled by the eccentric bearing members 100, and on the shafts 27, 30 and 31, respectively. The yarn guides 52 follow an arcuate path of movement 325 between the full and dotted line positions indicated in Fig. 14 under the control of the eccentric bearing members 207 and 212 on the shafts 30 and 31, respectively.

As the needles 42 rise from the low point 311, follow ing the casting oft of the previously formed loops, the eccentric bearing member 60, during the first of its rotative movements, first moves the needles toward the right and then to the left toward a point 313 to meet the yarn guides 52, which are moving from left to right, as the heads of the needles enter the path 325 of the yarn guides. At this time the sinkers 46 move toward the left end of their path 315 to maintain the loops on the needles in the throats 116 and beneath the nibs 117 of the sinkers 46 to hold the loops as the needles rise and move toward the point 313. Also at this time the combined movements of the eccentric bearing members 110 and 115 and the first of the two rotative movements of the eccentric bearing member 100 idly moves the beard presser member 50 from the right point or inactive position at 321 of its movement to a position intermediate the points 321 and 322 and back toward the point 321. After the yarn guides 52 have passed the heads of the needles 42, the pattern wheels 305 shift the guides sidewise relative to the needles.

During the second rotative movement of the bearing member 60 the needles are moved from the point 313 toward the right and the yarn guides are moved toward their left or full line positions. When the yarn guides have passed to the left of the needles 42 the needles rise to the high point 312 to strip the newly laid yarns below the beards thereof. As the needles 42 descend from the point 312 the newly laid yarns are caught beneath the beards of the needles and the presser member 50 is rapidly moved toward the left end 322 of the path 320 by the eccentric member 110 during its second rotative movement to intercept and close the beards of the needles. Simultaneously the sinkers 46 are moved to the right end of the path 315 and the nibs of the sinkers are moved from above the previously formed loops. When the tips of the closed beards pass through the previously formed loops the presser member is retracted toward its inactive position at 321. As the needles 42 continue to descend the new loops are drawn through the old loops, which are held by the surfaces 120 of the sinkers, and are cast or knocked off the needles. The needles continue to descend to the low point 311 and simultaneously move toward the right to draw the newly formed loops beneath the nibs 117 of the sinkers 46. From the point 311 the needles again rise to receive yarn for a new set of loops as hereinbefore set forth.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the use of third eccentric members operating in synchronism with the usual two eccentric members to move the head of the needles to and fro within the path of movement of the yarn guides results in a reduction in the portion of the knitting cycle normally required to lap the yarns around the heads of the needles and an increase in the portion of the cycle required for the remainder of the needle movement. Also the third eccentric member imparting the transverse movement to the needles permits a more simplified operation of the sinkers.

In addition, the use of a third eccentric member permits the use of spring beard needles while increasing the speed and imparting a more synchronous movement to the presser member relative to the needles during the beard closing operations. It also permits an increase in the speed of movement of the presser member as it is retracted after the tips of the needle beards pass through the previously formed loops and as the needles move to carry the newly laid yarn portions into the throats of the sinkers.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described by which the above results are obtained, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a warp knitting machine having spring bearded needles, a presser member for closing the beards of said needles, sinkers, and yarn guides for feeding yarns to said needles in combination with means for operating said needles including a first rotating eccentric member, a second eccentric member rotating at twice the speed of said first eccentric member, said first and second eccentric members operating in synchronism to move said needles along a substantially vertical path, and a third eccentric member rotating at twice the speed of said first eccentric member and operating in synchronism with said first and second eccentric members to move said needles along a path substantially transversely to said vertical path.

2. In a warp knitting machine having spring bearded needles, a presser member for acting on said needles to close the beards thereof, a first rotating shaft, a second shaft rotating at twice the speed of said first shaft, a

third shaft rotating at twice the speed of said first shaft, a first set of eccentric members on and rotated with said shafts and operating in synchronism to move said needles along a path having a substantially vertical component and a component transverse to said vertical component, a second set of eccentric members on and rotated with said shafts and connections operated by said latter eccentric members to move said presser member to close the beards of said needles.

3. In a warp knitting machine having spring bearded needles, a presser member, sinkers, and yarn guides for feeding yarns to said needles, in combination with means for operating said presser member to close the beards of said needles including a first rotating eccentric member, a second eccentric member rotating at twice the speed of said first eccentric member and a third eccentric member rotating at twice the speed of said first eccentric member.

4. In a warp knitting machine having spring bearded needles, a presser member, sinkers, and yarn guides for feeding yarns to said needles, in combination with means for operating said presser member to close the beards of said needles including a first rotating eccentric member supported by a first means, a second eccentric member rotating at twice the speed of said first eccentric member supported by a second means, a third eccentric member rotating at twice the speed of said first eccentric member supported by a third means, a pivoted support for said presser member, levers connecting said first, second and third eccentric members to each other and a link connecting said levers and pivoted support.

5. In a warp knitting machine having spring bearded needles, a presser member for closing the beards of said needles, sinkers, and yarn guides for feeding yarns to said needles in combination with means for operating said needles including a support for said needles, a first rotating shaft, an eccentric member on said shaft, a second shaft rotating at twice the speed of said first shaft, an eccentric member on said second shaft, levers on and operated by the eccentric members on said first and second shafts, a link connecting said levers and support, a third shaft rotatable at twice the speed of said first shaft, an eccentric member on said third shaft, said support for said needles being mounted for oscillating movement on the latter eccentric member, said first and second shafts and the eccentric members thereon operating said support to move said needles along a substantially vertical path and said third shaft and eccentric member thereon operating said support to move said needles along a path transversely to said vertical path.

6. In a warp knitting machine having spring bearded needles, yarn guides for feeding yarns to said needles in combination with means for operating said needles and yarn guides including a first rotating shaft, a second shaft rotating at twice the speed of said first shaft, eccentric members on said first and second shafts and operating to move said needles along a substantially vertical path, eccentric members on said shafts operating to move the yarn guides along an arcuate path passing through the vertical path of movement of the needles, a third shaft rotating at twice the speed of said first shaft, and an eccentric on said third shaft for moving said needles transversely to said vertical path of movement of said needles, a portion of said transverse movement being within said arcuate path of said yarn guides.

7. In a warp knitting machine having spring bearded needles, a presser member for acting on said needles to close the beards thereof, sinkers, and yarn guides for feeding yarns to said needles, a support for said needles, a first rotating shaft, a second shaft rotating at twice the speed of said first shaft, a third shaft rotating at twice the speed of said first shaft, eccentric members on said shafts, means connecting said eccentric members on said needle support and operated by said shafts to move said needles along a path having a substantially vertical component and a component extending transversely to said vertical component 11 to form the yarns fed to said needles into fabric, roller means for taking up and tensioning said fabric, a pivoted guide bar between the needles and said roller means over which the fabric passes, and means connecting said pivoted guide bar and said needle support wherby said guide bar is given a movement similar to said transverse movement of said needles to maintain a constant distance between said guide bar and said needles.

8. In a warp knitting machine having needles, and sinkers cooperating therewith in combination with means for moving said needles and sinkers including a first rotating shaft, a second shaft rotating at twice the speed of said first shaft, eccentric members on said first and second shafts and operating to move said needles along a substantially vertical path, a third shaft rotating at twice the speed of said first shaft, an eccentric on said third shaft for moving said needles transversely to said vertical path of movement of said needles, and an eccentric on said first shaft operating to move the sinkers in synchronism with the combined vertical and transverse movements of said needles.

9. In a Warp knitting machine having spring bearded needles, :1 presser member for closing the beards of said needles, sinkers, and yarn guides for feeding yarns to said needles, in combination with means for operating said needles including a first eccentric member supported by a first means, a second eccentric member supported by a second means, and a third eccentric member supported by a third means, supporting means for said needles mounted on said third eccentric member, means connecting said first and second eccentric members to said supporting means, and means for rotating said eccentric members with one of said eccentric members rotating at a different speed than the speed of the other two of said eccentric members.

10. In a warp knitting machine having spring bearded needles, a presser member for closing the beards of said needles, and sinkers and yarn guides for feeding yarns to said needles, in combination with means for operating said needles including a first rotatable eccentric member supported by a first means, a second eccentric member supported by a second means, and a third eccentric member supported by a third means, supporting means for said needles mounted on said third eccentric member, means for connecting said first and second eccentric mem bers to said supporting means, and means for rotating said eccentric members with said second and third eccentric members rotating at twice the speed of said first eccentric member.

11. In a warp knitting machine having needles with spring beards adjacent an end thereof, a presser member for closing the beards of the needles, sinkers and yarn guides for feeding yarns to said needles in combination with means for operating said needles in a continuous motion to cause the bearded ends thereof to move along a predetermined closed path including movement along a forward arcuate line from a low point in a mostly upward direction, then in a direction mostly at right angles to said first direction to receive yarn from said yarn guides, then in a reverse direction along an arcuate line crossing the forward line of travel to a high point, then again in a forward mostly downward direction along a line crossing said first and second mentioned lines to a point of contact between said beards and said presser member, and thence to said low point.

12. In a warp knitting machine having needles with spring beards at an end thereof, a presser member for closing the beards of the needles, sinkers and yarn guides for feeding yarns to said needles in combination with means for operating said needles to cause the bearded ends thereof to move along a predetermined closed path including movement along a forward arcuate line from a low point in a mostly upward direction, then in a direction mostly at right angles to said first direction to receive yarn from said yarn guides, then in a reverse direction along an arcuate line crossing the forward line of travel to a high point, then again in a forward mostly downward direction along a line crossing said first and second mentioned lines to a point of contact between said beards and said presser member, and thence to said low point, said needle operating means comprising a first movement imparting means, a second movement imparting means operating in synchronism with said first movement imparting means to provide upward and downward components of the movements of said bearded ends and a third movement imparting means to provide components of the movements of said bearded ends substantially at right angles to said upward and downward components.

13. In a warp knitting machine having needles with spring beards at an end thereof, a presser member for closing the beards of the needles, sinkers and yarn guides for feeding yarns to said needles in combination with means for operating said needles to cause the bearded ends thereof to move along a predetermined closed path including movement along a forward arcuate line from a low point in a mostly upward direction, then in a direction mostly at right angles to said first direction to receive yarn from said yarn guides, then in a reverse direction along an arcuate line crossing the forward line of travel to a high point, then again in a forward mostly downward direction along a line crossing said first and second mentioncd lines to a point of contact between said beards and said presser member, and thence to said low point, said needle operating means comprising a first rotatable movement imparting means, a second rotatable movement imparting means, means for rotating said second movement imparting means at twice the speed of and in synchronism with said first movement imparting means to provide upward and downward components of the movements of said bearded ends, and a third movement imparting means to provide components of the movements of said bearded ends substantially at right angles to said upward and downward components.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,203,290 Wieland Oct. 31, 1916 2,143,609 Morton et al Jan. 10, 1939 2,155,145 Morton et al Apr. 18, 1939 2,476,344 Young July 19, 1949 2,508,209 Amidon May 16, 1950 2,533,061 Sorton Dec. 5, 1950 2,634,594 Noe Apr. 14, 1953 2,635,443 Lambach Apr. 21, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 489,214 Germany Ian. 20, 1930 

